Parliamentary questions

David Stewart

1,651 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

11 Mar 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-35234 by Mairi Gougeon on 10 March 2021, how many (a) part-time (b) full-time staff are working on the development of vaccine (i) certificates and (ii) passports.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Scottish Government is currently considering the role that a vaccination certificate/passport may have. However, this work is still ongoing and a final decision has not been reached. We previously answered a question on this matter (S5W-35234), providing…

1 Mar 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has undertaken of the experience of Victoria in Australia in tackling COVID-19 to a point where no new cases were being reported and restrictions could be lifted.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The circumstances and progress of the epidemic varies between countries and countries adapt their response to suit their particular requirements. We look at a wide range of data from countries across the world, as we develop the approach to dealing with the p…

1 Mar 2021 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to reports that Scotland faces a penalty of up to £190 million because of irregularities in its EU structural fund spending.

16 Feb 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many of its staff are working (a) partly and (b) fully on the development of COVID-19 vaccine passports.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The Scottish Government is currently considering the role that a vaccination certificate/passport may have. However, this work is still ongoing and a final decision has not been reached. A key factor in the Scottish Government’s decision will be the efficacy…

5 Feb 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government by what date it will publish the consultation on the spatial planning framework for sea lice.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: We are continuing to work on the sea lice interactions risk assessment framework and hope to be in a position to make an announcement once this work is finalised.

5 Feb 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to implement the recommendations of the Salmon Interactions Working Group.

Answer · Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government is considering the Salmon Interactions Working Group recommendations report and a response will be provided in due course.

1 Feb 2021 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister what assessment the Scottish Government has made of introducing an internationally recognised, digital COVID-19 vaccine passport.

21 Jan 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-33422 by Jeane Freeman on 10 December 2020, what plans it has to include heart valve disease in the successor 2021 Heart Disease Improvement Plan.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: Through the refresh of the Heart Disease Improvement Plan we will continue to drive improvement to minimise preventable heart disease and to ensure that everyone with heart disease, including people with heart valve disease, has timely and equitable access to…

21 Jan 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the care and treatment of people with heart valve disease, and what plans it has to ensure that they can continue to receive timely access.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: We know that people with a heart condition are at higher risk of becoming ill if they contract Covid-19. Public Health Scotland Statistics on COVID-19’s impact on the health care system including cardiovascular procedures can be found at: https://scotland.s…

18 Jan 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will extend its COVID-19 business support funding to dry cleaners, which it has categorised as essential businesses that can remain open, making them ineligible for grants or other support except the furlough scheme, in light of the financial impact they have experienced as a …

Answer · Fiona Hyslop: We understand the economic impact that restrictions are having on businesses. We have significantly increased our financial support for businesses to match the severity of the restrictions necessary to control the virus and since the beginning of the pandemic…

12 Jan 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has for John Sturrock QC to review NHS Highland’s Healing Process, in light of reported complaints from victims of bullying and harassment regarding conflicts of interest and the compensation payments system.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The Scottish Government has no plans at this time to ask John Sturrock QC to review NHS Highland’s Healing Process. The Scottish Government continues to take an active interest in NHS Highland’s engagement with all relevant parties as it takes forward its re…

22 Dec 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government by what date it will provide a substantive answer to question S5W-33791, which received a holding response on 18 December 2020.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: S5W-33791 was answered on 22 December 2020.

15 Dec 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the £20 million loan funding for Scottish Premiership football clubs will be made available, and what the process will be for eligible clubs to apply.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: Discussions are ongoing with the Scottish FA and directly with Premiership clubs in relation to the terms of the loans, which we hope will be made available to clubs shortly. We anticipate an equal share of the loan allocation to be made available to each clu…

15 Dec 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the £10 million in grants for football clubs in leagues outwith the Scottish Premiership will be made available; how this will be split between leagues, and what the process will be for eligible clubs to apply.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon: The distribution mechanism was agreed with the Scottish FA and the £10m grant funding was provided to Scottish FA on 29 December for dissemination to all levels of the football pyramid below the Scottish Premiership.

7 Dec 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its preparations for the end of the Brexit transition period.

7 Dec 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with (a) NHS Highland and (b) HMRC regarding compensation payments for people who have been bullied being tax free.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: Given our ongoing conversations with NHS Highland that have provided assurances that NHS Highland are directly pursuing the matter with HMRC, we await HMRC’s decision to inform further actions.

7 Dec 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of The Healing Process, the initiative set up in response to bullying and harassment at NHS Highland, in light of reported complaints regarding compensation payments being taxed at source.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: We are in regular contact with the NHS Highland and have had received positive feedback about the process itself. We are aware of the concerns about tax deductions and the board are addressing the concerns raised by actively pursuing these directly with HMRC …

3 Dec 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-32623 by Jeane Freeman on 9 November 2020, when the Short Life Working Group set up by the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) to consider the evidence surrounding the efficacy of “air cleaning” devices will next meet.

Answer · Jeane Freeman: The work of the Short Life Working Group has been completed and the final paper 'Potential application of air cleaning devices and personal decontamination to manage transmission of COVID-19 - 4 November 2020' was presented to the Scientific Advisory Group fo…

11 Nov 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with Serco NorthLink Ferries on measures to track and trace (a) passengers and (b) employees during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: There is weekly dialogue with Serco NorthLink Ferries (SNF) and Transport Scotland on behalf of the Scottish Government in relation to the Covid-19 pandemic, including full discussions when there are concerns on Covid-19 operational issues or guidance has cha…

11 Nov 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what additional funding it has provided to Serco NorthLink Ferries in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and what impact this has had on subsidy levels in its (a) 2012-20 and (b) current contract for Northern Isles Ferry Services.

Answer · Paul Wheelhouse: To date the Scottish Government has provided additional funding of £7.5m to Serco NorthLink Ferries in order to enable the operator to respond to the financial pressures arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. This additional funding allows Serco NorthLink Ferri…

9 Nov 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the sale of Kinlochleven Power Station in relation to the future developments at the Lochaber Smelter.

Answer · Fergus Ewing: Since the Aluminium Smelter at Kinlochleven ceased production in June 2000, Kinlochleven Hydro Power Station has supplied all its electrical generation output to the National Grid. Kinlochleven Hydro Power Station does not supply power directly to the Lochabe…

2 Nov 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made in addressing the reported national shortage of chronic pain consultants.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-32968 on 11 November 2020. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusine…

2 Nov 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much funding was awarded for chronic pain services in (a) 2018-19 and (b) 2019-20, and how much will be awarded in 2020-21, broken down by NHS board.

Answer · Joe FitzPatrick: The Scottish Government provides policies, frameworks and resources to NHS Boards so they can deliver services that meet the needs of their local populations. Within this context, NHS Boards plan, budget for and deliver the services required to meet the asses…

28 Oct 2020 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what advice, guidance and financial assistance is being provided to professional football clubs during the COVID-19 pandemic.